Antisplitting device



March 31, 1936.

ANTISPLITTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 26, 1935 INVENTOR. /c//LL/iM (.21. aya, fcf/sfo,

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lw. c. LLOYD 2,035,817

Patented Mar. 31, 1936 2,035,817 ANTISPLITTDIG DEVICE William C. Lloyd, deceased, late of Sharon, Pa., by Bertha M. Lloyd, administratrix, Sharon,

Application November 26, 1935, Serial No. 51,642

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in irons adapted to be inserted in the ends of timber to check or prevent splitting thereof and is directed more particularly to S 5 irons of such character.

Irons of all shapesv and character have been designed to be driven into the ends of the timber to prevent it from splitting. The majority of these irons are known by the alphabetical character which they simulate, such as S, C, X and Z irons. 'I'hese irons are ordinarily heavy with one edge pointed so that they may be easily driven edgewise into the ends of a piece of timber with the grain thereof and lock the wood, preventing itfrom splitting apart.

'The metal fastener art, which is analogous to this art, generally employs light metal parts for holding two separate pieces of wood together. 'I'hese fasteners must be made from comparatively light material as they are generally forced into the Wood across the grain. This action ordinarily causes the wood to split if the fastener is inserted longitudinally of the grain. The most prominent of these fasteners is 4known as the corrugated fastener which is used extensively in making up frames of soft pine for boxes, picture frames, stage ats and settings or the like. Frequently the work of a corrugated fastener is temporary in the making up of a frame and the joints are later strengthened by means of triangular ply wood or the like.

Irons of odd shapes having specially designed ribs or lugs may be found in the art and have been exploited to overcome some of the diiliculties encountered. It has also been clearly drawn out by the art that plain S irons and corrugated fasteners or serpentine irons will slip longitudinally under the pressure of the splitting timber, rendering their service harmful in accelerating the splitting of the timber rather than preventing it.

C irons of different shapes and having a plurality of bent sections on each end thereof will also straighten out, slipping longitudinally and permitting the timber to split open.

'Aside from the specially designed irons which are costly to manufacture, all of the general types fail to function as they are intended. One objectl of this invention is to overcome these dimculties by the provision of an iron which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Another object is the provision of an iron having a continuous surface which acts to prevent longitudinal slipping in a timber by causing the force of the splitting timber to` act upon the iron to accentuate its function,

These advantages are attained by bending corrugated iron to simulate different characters. Each of the elements comprising this invention has been kno`wn for many years in the art yet none of those skilled in the art conceived the idea of combining their separate characteristics to obtain an improvement in the results hitherto expected from either element: There has been a long lapse of time since the disclosure of the ordinary S and C irons and the corrugated or the straight serpentine iron, yet to applicants knowledge the art does not disclose the combination of the two features which eifectively result in an improved iron thatis economical to manufacture.

The corrugation itself provides a continuously changing contour of the surfaces of the iron and by bending the iron these surfaces are oriented with respect to the expanding forces created` by the tendency to split or the splitting of the timber. These surfaces made by the corrugation do not lose any of their previous characteristics but their orientation with respect to the splitting forces furnish a new function Which produces Wedging surfaces 'and walls against which the force applied thereto is in the opposite direction to that which would cause slippage.

The Wood fibers of the timber have a tendency to separate. Eventually the weaker portion of the timber Will separate, forming a crack. This action creates a force which acts radially in all directions. Thus some of the components of this force will be directed against the oriented surfaces of the corrugated iron in the direction which prevents slippage and holds the fibers'in place.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a'practical embodiment of the principles of this invention'is illustrated, Fig. l shows an elevation of one end of a timber having a corrugated S iron embedded therein.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a corrugated S iron.

Referring to the drawing, I represents the timber in which the iron 2 is driven to check the splitting thereof as indicated at 3 and 4. The iron 2 is provided with the sharpened or pointed edge 5 as indicated-in Fig. 2.

In the formationv of the corrugated iron particular care must be exercised to prevent the destruction ofthe corrugation around the curves of the bends making up the character of the iron being manufactured.

In practice it has been found that if the corrugated iron is driven into the timber immediately after it has been cut and shaped a material saving in the timberis gained, because the longer the timber ispermitted to season the men who can recognize the proper application required after the timber has been cut. The corrugated X iron is advantageous if the ends of the X are properly bent around in the manner of the S or C irons with a large' curvature.

It is claimedz- 1; An anti-split timber ironcomprising a member composed of an intermediate central connecting portion and terminal U-shaped o'pp'ositely disposed anchoring elements at either end thereof, said terminal anchoring elements having corrugations uniformly disposed thereon, said corrugations on the terminall anchoring elements presenting a.' plurality of continuous surfaces of changing contour'oriented with respect to'expanding Wood forces in order to localize .such forces to minimize the same and prevent slippage. y

2. An anti-split' timber iron comprising a member .composed of an intermediate central connecting portion and terminal U-shaped oppositely disposed anchoring elements at either end thereof, said intermediate connecting portion and terminal anchoring elements having corrugations uniformly disposed thereon, the corrugal tions on the' intermediate connecting portion preventing slippage of the iron both in driving the same to anchoring position and under pressure of possible timber splitting, the corrugations on the terminal anchoring elements presenting a plurality of continuous surfaces of changing contour oriented with respect to expanding wood forces in order to localize such forces to minimize the same and prevent slippage.

BERTHA M. LLOYD. Administmtrz of William c. Lloyd, ,Deceased 

